Create backup scripts to backup MariaDB database

I have a 250GB MariaDB database (v 10.6) running on RHEL 9 - currently this is backed up using VMWare backups but they are not crash consistent.

I have started using MariaBackup and it works fine but I need to automate the usage via bash scripting and crons.

I have posted this under Databases as I need some advice on the best way to do this - currently I take a full once a week, then an incremental each night for 6 nights and then another full and so on.

I do not run the prepare process during the backup/post backup stage. Currently full backup takes around 12 mins, incremental takes around 4 mins - prepare on the full backup takes around 90 minutes.

Ideally I would like to be able to run backups every 4 hours - however, backups are easy and I need the best way to be able to recover/restore should this be needed and that is where advice part comes in.

I have to have a full backup - so if I take a full on Monday at midnight and then 40 incrementals and I need to restore I assume this means I have to prepare and then restore 40 incrementals and 1 full backup which will be time consuming and complex etc

So the ask is two fold - recommend the "best" backup/recovery regime for usage of MariaBackup based on 4 hours RPO and, ideally, 4 hour RTO.

Secondly then write the bash scripts/crons to automate this so the backups happen without intervention including folder creation using date based naming conventions (e.g. dbname_date_time_inc or dbname_date_time_full etc), removal of old folders after a period of time and anything else needed to achieve what you set out above in recommendations (especially around making restores easier/quicker/preparation process).

Note: this is NOT just writing some bash scripts so you need to know databases and ideally Mariabackup/Mariadb/Percona and/or MySQL. There is no system access available - you will need to create this locally and test etc then send to me to run in live